The Audreys On “Second Hand Boots”
Renowned for their glimmering pastiche of alternative country and beyond, ARIA Award-winning act The Audreys return with a stunning slice of brooding country, releasing new single Secondhand Boots; the first new music from The Audreys in ten years, alongside their twentieth anniversary as a band in 2024.
Based around a real-life experience for vocalist Taasha Coates, Secondhand Boots lulls you with gentle yet driving rhythms, glistening instrumentals and the hauntingly intimate vocal stylings of Coates herself. A heart-rending and melancholic country delight, Secondhand Boots also arrives as The Audreys’ first new music in a decade, with the end result launching a sublime new era for the group, laden with tangible narratives.
With Coates working alongside a talented array of musicians to create this new single, guitarist Tom Kneebone, bassist Felicity Freeman, and drummer Beej Barker, Secondhand Boots also added some extra sparkle courtesy of producer and engineer Ryan Martin John of Cactus Cactus Sound, and mastering by MaderVMusic’s Alex Mader. Taasha Coates answers a few questions about the single.
How has the build-up been leading up to the release of Second Hand Boots?
A long time coming is probably the short answer to that question. The long answer is that it’s been a tough few years with Covid and then the death of my songwriting partner Tristan Goodall. But writing and then making this single and album has been a very fulfilling and healing process. I wrote some of the songs with Tristan’s brother Cam, and that was a very positive experience for both of us. We each wrote songs about Tristan and played them to each other. There were a lot of tears and hugs that day.
Was the process of making your single as challenging as you thought?
This is the first time I’ve put out a single without a label behind me which is a little scary, but labels aren’t what they were when I first started releasing music in 2006. The landscape is very different. So far I’m enjoying learning a lot of new skills and meeting a lot of new people.
Sonically, how would you describe your music?
Country music for people who don’t think they like country music.
Who would you consider to be the biggest influence on your music and why?
I’m passionate about great songs, so I’d have to say all the great songwriters I grew up listening to from my parents’ record collection. Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Dolly Parton, Bruce Springstreen, Neil Young, Willy Nelson, Gram Parsons.
Best piece of advice you have been given?
Don’t have a fall back plan, because as soon as it gets too hard you’ll fall back on it. And it will get hard a lot.
What is The Audreys life story?
It’s our twenty year anniversary this year, so that’s a big question that’s probably best directed at Wikipedia.
Are you looking to tour more broadly?
We used to head to the US every few years, but we haven’t been back since Covid. Now I’m thinking if we want to tour somewhere other than Australia we might visit Europe. I’m keeping an eye on our Spotify plays, and so far Germany seems to be coming up a lot. I will need to develop a taste for sauerkraut, because eww.
What’s next for The Audreys?
Another single, then the new album in February next year. Then a big national tour! I’m so excited to get back out on the road, that’s my favourite part about this whole crazy business. Playing live, meeting fans, travelling, not having to do dishes.
Who’s your favourite Adelaide artist/group at the moment (not yourselves ha!)?
Ryan Martin John co-produced this record with me and is also a wonderful singer/songwriter in his own right. He also works with my incredible guitar player Tom Kneebone, who can hear sliding up a storm in Secondhand Boots. I’m looking forward to hearing what those two put out next.
Interview By Rob Lyon
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